Sign up to subscribe

Arable

This year’s difficult season means livestock farmers will have to pay particular attention to managing their entire silage process if they are to avoid a high mycotoxin challenge, suggests Dr.Dave Davies of Silage Solutions Ltd.

The ability of some of the most potentially damaging diseases to the country’s potato crop to survive for a long time in limbo should make growers seriously consider washing the wooden crates in which the crop is now stored.

With a government keen on increasing recycling rates, there is an increasing tonnage of compost available but there is also a reluctance by the farming industry to be seen as providing a ready unquestioning home for this material.

A Mearns family is breathing new life into one of the North east's oldest traditions. Medlock & Medlock, the owners of the renowned Oatmeal of Alford, have recently launched a strawberry and hazelnut muesli and line of porridge oats taking the age-old brand firmly into the 21st century - and winning the firm plaudits from the word go.

Drought in some of the main grain growing countries of the world such as Russia and the United States along with a reduced acreage of cereals having been planted has given a slight boost to grain prices, which have been in the doldrums for the last two years.

Maize, a crop which is normally associated with warm humid climates is advancing north, and has now reached as far as Aberdeenshire. Advances in varieties and establishment methods over the last 20 years have enabled the crop to move much further north than previously thought possible. Ayrshire and Northern Ireland are seen as the most northerly locations growing significant acreages of forage maize, however a few growers further north are keen to evaluate the possibility of growing the crop.

Brian Herbert, an agronomist and Technical Director of Singleton Agriculture woke at 4:30am, got in his car and drove for 6 hours. A customer with a large herd of cattle to feed wasn't pleased with his silage. There were holes in the plastic wrap on the bales and the farmer wanted some answers and he wanted them soon.

As this season’s young broccoli and cauliflower plants arrive for planting, Alistair Ewan, the managing director of East of Scotland Growers, one of the UK’s largest producers of vegetables expressed his concern over rocketing transport costs.